[Cyberknight13]

My 4 year old daughter has been toe walking since she started walking. It seems mostly behavioral or psychological as she walks regularly for a few seconds when we tell her to. We have her undergoing massage and physical therapy as the toe walking had caused her muscles and ligaments to tighten as well as scoliosis to begin developing.

In addition, she is afraid of floors. It seems to be mostly newer locations, like stores, but can be anywhere except where extremely comfortable and familiar. she claims "the floor is going to eat me" and she clings to our hands or legs and will not walk if we don't hold her hand or let her hold our leg. She will actually cry at times. She has not had any trauma like a fall or anything so I am perplexed by this.

I am unsure if the two behaviors are connected.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

- Cyberknight13
.

I wonder, is it all floors? Does the 'texture' of the floor matter? What about the various shoes she wears? Would it help if she wore shoes indoors? What if you gave her a small 'worry stone' to hang onto in a pocket?

[Angelique67]

Is it possibly an inner ear infection? I have vertigo and I get afraid because to my eyes the floor seems to rise up and be perpendicular to the ground. I know that sounds crazy, but it's a symptom I've been living with off and on. I wish your family excellent luck.

[nicoleflynn]

I would take her to a child psychologist....children have so many fears;; it might help.

[Cyberknight13]

Originally Posted by justafriend306

I wonder, is it all floors? Does the 'texture' of the floor matter? What about the various shoes she wears? Would it help if she wore shoes indoors? What if you gave her a small 'worry stone' to hang onto in a pocket?

There is no discernible pattern. The floors and locations vary. She was afraid of her bedroom floor when we renovated it but got used to it over time. Reflectiveness, color, texture, etc do not seem to matter. Occasionally she will get distracted by friends, toys, etc but not always and even when, she usually goes back to the fear.

Her shoes do not make a difference nor does wearing shoes, socks, crocs, bare feet, etc indoors. I have not tried a worry stone, due to her age, but if I teach her to use one I might be able to tell.

[Cyberknight13]

Originally Posted by Angelique67

Is it possibly an inner ear infection? I have vertigo and I get afraid because to my eyes the floor seems to rise up and be perpendicular to the ground. I know that sounds crazy, but it's a symptom I've been living with off and on. I wish your family excellent luck.

No, it has been going on for almost 3 years now. She doesn't have fluid in her ears or anything like that. She doesn't even seem to have any balance issues as she responds well to her PT exercises.

I know what you mean and I feel for you. I had a bad infection a few years ago and had a mastoidectomy. I had facial paralysis and now have hearing loss and tinnitus.

Thank you and I wish you and yours the best as well.

[Cyberknight13]

Originally Posted by nicoleflynn

I would take her to a child psychologist....children have so many fears;; it might help.

I agree but unfortunately we live here in Siberia and they don't really have psychologists, let alone specialized ones.

I am a couple classes away from my Psychology BS and might just open a practice here lol

[Angelique67]

Originally Posted by Cyberknight13

No, it has been going on for almost 3 years now. She doesn't have fluid in her ears or anything like that. She doesn't even seem to have any balance issues as she responds well to her PT exercises.

I know what you mean and I feel for you. I had a bad infection a few years ago and had a mastoidectomy. I had facial paralysis and now have hearing loss and tinnitus.

Thank you and I wish you and yours the best as well.

Hi again, just wondering, was your infection anytime close to your daughter's fear of the floor? Maybe she saw your facial paralysis and was frightened, and somehow deflected that fear onto the floor? Sorry if this sounds foolish.

Oh, and I also have terrible tinnitus. :/ it's awful!

[Trippin2.0]

I have been suffering from spells of vertigo for the past 3 years, without any ear infection... Cause currently unknown.


Floors and walls freak me out when it hits and I'm 31.


Just thought I'd mention it.


Good luck in finding out what it is

[*Laurie*]

I wish you had access to a therapist who could do play therapy with your daughter, because that would most likely help her. When my daughter (now 30) was 3 years old she developed a terror of fire. Like you, my husband and I could not come up with any reasons for my daughter's terrible fear. She would completely panic when we took her places because she was so afraid the place would catch fire. We took her to a play therapist, and kept her in therapy throughout her childhood. The therapy helped her immensely. Even now she uses "tools" she learned as a child from therapy.

I feel so sorry for your daughter. As an adult fears are horrible, but as a little child, with the world so big and mysterious, it must be absolutely terrifying to be victimized by such fear.

I ask that you make sure she understands the reasons why she is in PT. I walked funny at the same age and spent several years in PT in addition to having to strap my feet onto a board every night. It was all quite traumatic to me and I still can't stand to have my feet touched.

[notz]

Has her vision been tested? Depth perception problems?